A group of students in the Netherlands has designed a concept car named “Zem” that cleans the air while driving instead of emitting CO2 using a technology called “direct air capturing.” Direct air capture is a fairly new method of cleaning the air by capturing CO2 into a filter. While driving, air will move through the vehicle’s self-designed filters and CO2 will be captured and stored.
In production, the team used a method called “additive manufacturing.” This method helped them to create their concept car with as few CO2 emissions as possible. Collaborating with partners CEAD and Royal3D, the team developed the monocoque and the body panels to be fully 3D-printable. By 3D-printing these parts of Zem, the exact shape that was needed could be printed and almost no waste material was produced, the team says.
The team also took advantage of bi-directional charging technology, making it possible for the car to provide energy to houses when no renewable energy is being generated at that moment. In this way, Zem can be used as an external battery to a home, providing the house with green energy when needed. The bi-directional charging technology has been paired with solar panels implemented on the car’s roof.
